Sex offender sentenced after failing to register

GALLIPOLIS — A locally registered sex offender was recently sentenced in the Common Pleas Court of Gallia County after he alleged failed to register his change of address earlier this year.

Larry Lee Duff, 19, of Gallipolis, was sentenced last week to two years of probation after pleading guilty to a change of attempted failure to notify change of address, a felony of the fifth degree.

Duff had originally been charged with a first-degree-felony charge of failing to register his change of address after he moved from his registered residence to an unknown location.

Gallia County Sheriff Joe Browning reported earlier this year that a warrant was issued for Duff’s arrest on Feb. 20 after he failed to report his change of address to the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office as required by law.

A complaint filed against Duff with Municipal Court and signed by a sheriff’s deputy on Feb. 20 states that the defendant failed to report for quarterly registration and his whereabouts were unknown at the time charges were filed.

The complaint further states the defendant, whose address is listed as Spruce Street in Gallipolis, is a Tier I sex offender/child victim offender registrant in the Juvenile Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Scioto County after he was convicted, as a juvenile, of rape and gross sexual imposition.

Duff was reportedly arrested March 21 by a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol who observed the suspect walking along Ohio 160.

Following his apprehension, Duff appeared in Municipal Court with his court-appointed counsel, Barbara Wallen. His bond was set at $100,000, 10 percent.

He later waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case was bound over to the common pleas court. His bond was reduced to an own recognizance bond as per the recommendation of the state and he was released.

An indictment in this case was filed on April 10, and Duff was arrested on a warrant on indictment on April 11.

A proposed guilty plea was later filed in this case last month, and, on the date of a scheduled status conference on May 29, the state of Ohio filed a dismissal of this case as the defendant would be entering a plea on a bill of information.

The bill of information filed by the Gallia County Prosecutor’s Office on the same date states that Duff, on Sept. 3, 2013, engaged in conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in a charge of failing to notify change of address.

A guilty plea was entered to this charge of attempted failure to notify change of address, and during a hearing last week, Duff was sentenced to 24 months of community control. He was given credit for 51 days of jail time served and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution.

According to information filed with the clerk of courts office, Duff’s new address is located on Ohio 160 in Bidwell.